April Retail Sales Revised Higher From -0.2% to +0.3%
The U.S. Census Bureau reported advance monthly retail sales were $519.0 billion, a gain of 0.5% (±0.5%) from April and 3.2% (±0.7%) above May 2018. Figures are adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.
| Indicator | Prior | Revised | Consensus Forecast | Forecast Range | Actual |
| Retail Sales – M/M ∆ | -0.2% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% to 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Retail Sales less autos – M/M ∆ | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% to 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Less Autos & Gas – M/M ∆ | -0.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.1% to 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Control Group – M/M ∆ | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.1% to 0.5% | 0.5% |
Total sales for the quarter from March 2019 through May 2019 were up 3.6% (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. Retail sales from March 2019 to April 2019 were revised from down 0.2% (±0.5%) to up 0.3% (±0.1%).
Retail trade sales were up 0.5% (±0.5%) from April 2019, and 3.1% (±0.7%) above last year.
Nonstore retailers were up 11.4% (±1.4%) from May 2018, and 1.4% from last month. Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores were down 4.2% (±2.5%) from last year.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers were estimated at $115.39 billion, a gain of 0.7% from last month and 2.5% from $106.227 billion in May 2018.
As People’s Pundit Daily (PPD) previously reported, U.S. light vehicle sales rose 6.2% to a seasonally-adjusted 17.40 million units in May, beating the consensus forecast and reversing the 6.1% decline in April.
Revised unadjusted estimates and adjusted estimates are scheduled for release on June 25, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
